Analysis on IT trends and competitive strategies, with emphasis on micro processors, computer systems and networks. Based on latest news, backed up with real data, this site intends to provide a true and realtime picture of the fast changing IT landscape. This journal strives to be accurate on facts and sharp on criticisms. You may email your opinion to sharikou@yahoo.com or post comments here, be cool and intelligent.

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Freelance journalist on IT matters. Some of my writings have been published on online IT journals. Any original content on this journal is Copyrighted, but it's free for non-commercial use. Any Trademarks used on this site belong to their respective owners. Some of the pictures are links. If there is any issue with the content of this site, please email sharikou@yahoo.com .

For reference I just bought components and assembled 3 similar PCs 2 weeks ago, but with a larger disk (320 GB HDD), faster memory (DDR2-800), and a slightly better graphic card (Geforce 6200) at a lower price: $1084.

So although it's still cheaper to assemble the box yourself (and you get to choose every single component), I have to admit this Dell box is still a pretty good deal for people who are just looking for a pre-assembled box and a single warranty provider.

Sharikou, you sneaky dog you. You've configured the system to make it look less expensive, but you forgot several KEY components that no one could live without.

1. Only a two button mouse. Despite the nice configuration, how would you expect to get anything done with only TWO buttons? What, do you think people won't see the lack of the third button in this config? This isn't a Macintosh Apple IIc here. It can't ready your mind.

2. Also, no modem. How will you be able to connect to the interweb without a good solid 14.4 modem? This is the day and age of emails. If you can't dial up AOL with this machine you're going to be left in the stone ages of fax machines and rotary phones.

3. AND....no floppy disk drive! I mean, come on, how are you supposed to share data with anyone else on the planet?

Yeah, at first glance it looks nice, but when you get to the nitty gritty you find out that it isn't all it's cracked up to be. I obviously will be better off with my 486SX (which, might I add, is INTEL CYRIX -AND- AMD all-in-one) and is far more able to handle my digital content creation tasks, thank you.

Besides, I couldn't justify spending another $500 on something to do twice as many ANSI graphix anyways even if it DID do them in color this time.

I just looked up the components, and you can make the same computer yourself, with all components the same or better(same size SATA hard drive, same 3800 x2 AM2 cpu, same amount and speed of ram, DVD dual layer burner that burns cd's(this is better than the dell), windows xp pro(also better than dell), same integrated 6150, 7.1 audio, firewire(not included on dell), gigabit ethernet(better than dell), all for slightly less than the dell price. In fact, if you go for a cheaper motherboard(still has 4 ram slots, gigabit ethernet and 7.1 audio) and get a 6200 pci-e graphics card, it costs about the same as the dell, with superior graphics and other specs.

So it is still cheaper to make it yourself. The only drawback is that it takes more of your time.

Analog, which by the way is properly spelled 'Analogue' to us 'enlitened indivijewels', does NOT go hand in hand with the term, "LCD".

"Flat Panel" indicates either a cathode ray tube monitor or else Nicole Ritchie. Both can sit on your desk and reveal themselves to you, but only one can be properly plugged in to a computer without problems (monitor). Oh, and one will weigh more too (monitor).

LCD's of course receive a digital signal rather than an analogue signal, weigh in comparably to Nicole Ritchie (under 30 lbs), and would add quite a bit more to the price of the system, unlike Nicole Ritchie.

Where do you get off at? I hope you step off the train wile its still moving. >D Like everybody says stop makeing stuff up about Duo2's performance its only about 12% faster. Act like its some big difference gee... can we tell the truth for once?

Seems like Dell is trying to make all its margins in AMD PCs. These low spec machines shouldn't cost more than $400 when looked at from a price/performance perspective. Dell has lost its discounts on Intel CPUs but can't hike the Intel PC prices. Now only way they can make their usual margins is by overpricing AMD pcs. This will backfire on them.

AMD wins in price power and performance. A $149.95 stock X2 3800+ even a X2 3600+ at $124.95 blows the doors off a E6300 $199.95 and a E6400 $249.95 when useing the future. (64-bit OS's) You can't compare a cpu that can't do windows 64-bit to one that can.

Ever tryed sandra or any real benchmark in 64bit? You would be sadly dissapointed being agenst a AMD in 64-bit. Its a place intel will never touch them at. The EE X2's that run at 65w and 35w are very cheap now. You can amazingly undervolt a normal model and it becomes a EE for the same price, can run at stock down to 1.0v.

If that isn't better then I don't know what is. Because conroe sure can't match that price per performance per watt ratio when the 2 X2's perform at only a 3% difference agenst eachother. But agenst the AMD in a 64-bit setting, theres no comparison. AMD's true 64-bit instructions kill intel. I can't beleave you lose performance with a intel by useing 64-bit vs 32-bit. Sucks to have a intel if your planning on going 64-bit.

Glad I saved alot of money. A kick ass board $70, memory ddr2 800 $80, X2 3800+EE $149 1.0volts 29w 2ghz. That basic upgrade I put together gave me atleast $500 extra instad of going for a intel I saved money and got a board that can get me to 3ghz cpu speed, and memory upto 1200mhz.

I would have had to spend extra on intel compattible memory $120 for DDR2 800, a E6400 $250, a decent overclocking mobo that supports duo2 $150. Spend almost 2 times more on just that when I can get a AMD mobo that has all the dfi goodies for only $70. Intel suckers you on the extremely expencive mobos. Get a cheap one and it will kill you, you get what you pay for when you go intel, anything below $15o and its garbage from intel.

On AMD's side most of the high end mobos start at around 80 to that are for the entertament system as a computer junky as myself. So why would I spend hundreds of dollors extra for a superior cpu at 32bit when I don't use 32bit, I only use 64bit windows like a lot of people? Because AMD is superior in the 64-bit world and thats final.

I posted up above about the components(started off with "I just looked up the components, and you can make the same computer yourself") and I wanted to clarify that that price included a 17" LCD, operating system, and all shipping charges. So, counting in all the costs for all the components and shipping, you can make the computer for less yourself. It will just take more of your time. If anyone wants the specific components and prices, I can post them.

I notice however, the local banditos always pull the same stunt by making "flat panel" seem like an LCD - it can go either way if worded properly. Those silly banditos.

If they were actually selling an LCD they would definitely advertise it as an LCD. Sneaky Dell bastards. So I still think anyone who orders the aforementioned specced out system would still have to buy reinforcement beams for their desk.

At least if you made your own you'd KNOW FOR SURE what you were getting. (Until you brought it home and took it out of it's box, at which time you'd notice that the smartly-store-bought LCD monitor had a well-placed forklift hole through it.)

I realized my error afterwards of course...not all LCDs only accept digital signals (look at TV's), nor does analog imply ONLY CRT's. I'm one of the old fuddy duddys that enjoy my computing with a CRT monitor still because I'm suspicious of new technology like ohhhhhhh anything newer than 1990ish.

Coincidentally, that was the time hair bands died off and I went off to university to drink professionally. You can't trust these new fangled devices or this new fangled music either. Someone's always gay and you sing along with their songs all the time until a few years later when someone finally takes you aside to let you know, "Hey, Ricky Martin, y'know, likes boys." Can't trust anything. *Burp*

Anyways, I have taken the shoe from my mouth and returned it to my foot. Did you know Dr. Scholl's tastes like quiche? Really really BAD quiche. Not that I know what quiche tastes like, ahem. Not do I listen to Ricky Martin either. I swear.

I'm not sure where you're shopping, but in most of the world "flat panel" means LCD and "flat screen" is usually used to describe a CRT with tube that isn't curved on it's front surface. But if you really, really, really want to doubt, you could always go look up the E177FP on Dell's site and see that it is indeed and LCD and not a tube. No desk reinforcement needed.

On building the same Dell config as quoted above, I came in closer to $650, using cheap parts, paying retail (since most people can't buy direct from distributors) not including tax and shipping. Also with a questionable warranty. Looks like Dell has a pretty good deal.

Hey, start posting again that Core 2 cant run Vista in 64 bits. I liked that one, it was funny too.

I believe that what he was referring to wasn't that you couldn't run Windows XP or Vista x64 Editions on Intel's CPUs, only that the performance is significantly worse on Intel's CPUs than on comparable AMD CPUs. This was something that was widely discussed in the Microsft newsgroups during the Windows XP x64 beta process, and it is very well established that even though Intel's x64 extensions are compatible with AMD64 it is nowhere nearly as efficiently implemented.

If you doubt it just benchmark a Core 2 Duo versus a comparable Athlon 64 X2 on 32-bit Windows, then repeat the tests on 64-bit Windows using 64-bit benchmarks. Watch as the Intel scores drop like a rock.